KARACHI, Nov 25: The 200 residential quarters of the Civil Hospital built some 50 years ago for the paramedical staff are in a shambles owing to the neglect of the civic agencies responsible for the maintenance of the locality, Dawn learnt here on Saturday.

Within a stone’s throw from the Civil Hospital, these residential quarters were inhabited by approximately 1,400 Class-IV staff of the Civil Hospital and the Dow Medical College whose income ranged between Rs3,500 and Rs4,000 per month.

Residents of the quarters told Dawn that a few years ago a child had fallen off the balcony of his one-storey apartment because there were large holes in the balcony. “The child remained unhurt because he had fallen on the excreta of the goats,” they said.

Salim, a laboratory technician at the Civil Hospital, told Dawn that the biggest problem of the area residents was water. “The Public Works Department has failed to lay proper water pipelines. That was why we had to lay makeshift water pipelines which cost us Rs8,000 per quarter,” he said.

He also pointed to an open filthy drain which gave off an unbearable stench.

Faqir Mohammad, another area resident who has a small shop, said the Nazim of the Union Council number five, Mustafa Khan, lived very close to the area and could see the poor condition of the drains every day, but still he did nothing.

“When he needed votes, he used to come here every day, promising to sort out all civic problems. Now that he has been elected, he says he is powerless to do anything,” he said.

Mohammad Younus, a laboratory attendant at the DMC pharmacology department, said that the repair works were done by the area residents at their own expense. “Recently many robberies took place in the area. The residents were therefore compelled to install grills at their balconies. Besides, the residential quarters have not been whitewashed for at least 10 years,” he said.

Faqir Mohammad complained that previously paramedical staff used to get accommodation at the residential quarters on a seniority basis. “Now some quarters are in possession of those people who are very junior,” he added.

The supervisor of the area said he got two brooms in a month to clean the entire area.